Where SoCal should channel anger over government shutdown: Opinion

The government shutdown is an embarrassment to the whole nation but a particular frustration to Southern Californians.

The state will be hit as hard as or harder than any by the shutdown that began at midnight Washington, D.C., time. It was reported as many as 169,000 civilian federal employees could be furloughed, about one-fifth of the U.S. total. National parks, veterans’ centers and space scientists will be affected.

At the same time, relatively few Southern Californians are in a position to influence members of Congress whose votes are pivotal in this fight — Republicans who backed the bills that would keep the government running only if Obamacare is defunded or delayed. Most of us are represented in the House by Democrats who voted against those senseless bills. Calling Democrats to complain about the Republicans might be cathartic but it won’t make any difference.

Constituents of House Republicans should be pressuring them to drop their dead-end crusade against the Affordable Care Act and get the government running again. In this area, they are Reps. Buck McKeon, R-Santa Clarita; Gary Miller, R-Rancho Cucamonga; Ed Royce, R-Brea, and Paul Cook, R-Yucaipa.

They’re welcome to continue to argue against the implementation of the new health-care program, online signups for which begin today. But they aren’t going to overcome support for Obamacare in the Democratic-controlled Senate, let alone the White House. They should be told to back off before they hurt the Southern Californians they represent more than they already have.